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HOISTING APPARATUS Filed May 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 /3/ I! /Z/ L.

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March 28, 1933. w A, HUMMEL 1,903,235

HOI STING APPARATUS Filed May 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 28, 1933. w. A. HUMMEL. ,903,235

HOISTING APPARATUS Filed May 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 W. A HUMMEL HOISTING APPARATUS March 28, 1933.

Filed May 18 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 28, 1933.

W. A. HUMMEL HOISTI NG APPARATUS Filed May 18, 1929 6 Sheet s-Sheet 5 Imezz; 1

March 28, 1933. Y w Av HUMMEL 1,903,235

HOISTING APPARATUS Filed May 18, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Mar. 28, 1933 UNITE STATES WILLARD A. HUMMEL, 0F PHILADELPHIA,

PATENT FFICE PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN PENNSYLVANIA HOISTING APPAEATUS Application filed May 18,

My invention relates to hoisting devices, and it has for one object the provision of a hoisting device of minimum weight but maximum strength, wherein the parts are formed of ressed-steel.

nether object of my invention is to provide a trolley structure which may be readily adjusted for tracks of different width.

A further object of my invention is to provide a trolley structure for use with hoisting apparatus, wherein the bending strains imposed on the axle of the trolley wheel are reduced to a minimum value, which remain substantially constant regardless of the size of the supporting track, permitting equal free dom of movement of the trolley wheel for all normal operating conditions.

A still further object of my invention is to provide means, whereby the supporting structure for the hoisting drum may be mounted on the supporting trolley with the axis of the hoisting drum positioned in desired angular relation with respect to the trolley track.

Other objects and applications of my invention, as well as details of construction and operation, whereby the same may be practiced, will be apparent more fully hereinafter, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view of a hoist embodying my invention, taken on the line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the hoist shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but looking at the hoist from the opposite side;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, the I-beam being removed.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the trolley structure, showing the side plates thereof reversibly mounted so that the trolley may engage a track of smaller width than that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail, horizontal sectional view of the ear housing and associated parts taken on t e line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 7 i is a sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 2.

1929. Serial No. 364,239.

Referring to the drawings, an I-beam 1 is provided with a pair of oppositely-extending flanges 2 and 3 which constitute tracks for pairs of trolley wheels 4- and 5, respectively. The trolley wheels are provided with axles which are journaled in bearings positioned in spaced relation in an upper edge portion 8 of an upright pressed-steel side frame 9. Each of the bearings comprises a bearing member 11 which is forced in an aperture 12 formed in the upper edge portion 8 of the side frame 9. The aperture 12 is provided with an iuwardl y-cxtending, circular flange l3 affording a seat for the hearing member 11. Opposite ends of the bearing member 11 are swedged over the adjacent side plate portion, whereby the member 11 may be securely locked in position.

An inner vertical side 14 of the bearing member 11 affords an abutting surface for an adjacent side portion 15 of the trolley wheel 4. The axle 6 of the trolley wheel extends through the bearing member 11 and terminates in a threaded portion 16 for a nut 17 which is movable into clamping engagement with an outer side 18 of the bearing member 11, whereby the wheel 4 may be detaehably secured in position. Should it be desirable to mount the wheel 4 adjacent to an outer side 19 of the side frame 9, rather than an inner side 21 as shown in Fig. 1, this may be readily done by loosening the bolt 17, removing the axle 6 and the wheel 4 from the side frame 9 and then inserting the axle 6 in the bearing member 11 from the outer side 19. The dimensions of the parts are such that the trolley wheel 4 is positioned immediately adjacent to its supporting bearing 7 in order to eliminate bending strains in the axle 6.

The side frame 9 is provided at its upper edge with a relatively long, inwardly-extend ng flange 22 of short width, and at its lower edge with an inwardly-extending flange 23 of relatively short length but increased width. These flanges are inter-connected by inwardly-extending side flanges 24 and 25 which gradually increase in width from the upper flange 22 to the lower flange 23. A lower central portion of the side frame 9 is provided with a boss 26 which extends forwardly from the inner side 21 just above the flange 23 to the outer edge thereof. The boss 26 may be secured in position by welding. Aligned apertures 27 and 28 are formed in the boss 26 and the adjacent portion of the side frame 9 for a supporting pivot bolt 29 which extends therethrough and terminates in a threaded end portion 31 having a clamping nut 32.

The bolt 29 also passes through a pair of aligned apertures 33 and 34 formed in op posite sides 35 and 36 of a suspension bracket portion 37 of a hoisting device 38. The suspension bracket 37 is provided with a second pair of sides 39 and 41 which are positioned at right angles to the sides 35 and 36 and provided with aligned apertures 42 and 43 adapt ed to receive the pivot bolt 29, thereby permitting the hoisting device 38 to be mounted with the axis of the winding drum thereof at right angles or parallel to the supporting I- beam 1, as will appear hereinafter in greater detail.

The pair of trolley wheels 5 opposite to the trolley wheels 4 are similarly mounted on axles 45 supported in bearings 46 carried by an upright pressed-steel side frame 46. The frame 46 is identical in construction with the side frame 9, and is provided with an apertured portion 47 and an apertured boss 48 adapted to receive a projecting end portion 49 of the pivot bolt 29. The belt 29 extends beyond an outer vertical side 51 of the side frame 46 and terminates in a threaded end portion 52 carrying a clamping nut 53. Relatively small adjustment in the spacing of the pairs of wheels 4 and 5 may be effected by inserting washers 54 between the end wall 35 of the suspension bracket 37 and an end surface 55 of the boss 26, and also by inserting washers 56 between the opposite end wall 36 and the surface 57 of the boss 48. lVhen such adjustment has been effected, the nuts 32 and 53 are tightened on the pivot bolt 29, rigidly clamping together the side frames 9 and 46 and the walls 33 and 36 of the suspension bracket 37.

Should an I-beam be used of decreased width, as shown, for example, in Fig. 5, the nuts 32 and 53 are removed and the side frames 9 and 46 are then reversibly mounted on the pivot bolt 29 with the outer sides 19 and 51 so positioned as to face the track. Locking nuts 17 and 58 for the wheel axles 6 and 45 are also removed and the wheels reversibly mounted, as illustrated in Fig. 5. The hub portion 15 of each of the pair of Wheels 4 now abuts against the side 18 of the bearing member 11, and the clamping nuts 32 and 53 on the first bolt 29 engage end surfaces 55 and 57 of the bracket bosses 26 and 48, respectively. The reversing of the position of the pairs of Wheels 4 and 5 and the side frames 9 and 46 very greatly decreases the spacing of said pairs of wheels and 5,

thereby permitting the use of a relatively small I-beam as a track. It is noted that the variation in spacing of the trolley wheels 4 and 5 may be effected without a change in the bending strains on the trolley-wheel axles 6 and 45, thereby insuring the same freedom of trolley movement for all sizes of track.

The pivot or clamping bolt 29 for the trolley structure also affords a pivotal mounting to adjustable bracket arms 61 and 62 of a pair of current collectors 63 and 64, respectively. As shown in Fig. 1, each of the adjustable bracket arms 61 and 62 is provided with a vertical portion (35 having an aperture 66 through which the threaded end portion of the pivot bolt 29 extends and also a horizontal portion 67 extending outwardly from the trolley frame. The vertical portion 65 is positioned between the trolley frame and the pivot-bolt nut 32, so that when the latter is turned, the adjustable bracket arm 61 is clamped in position together with the side frames 9 and 46 and the suspension bracket 37. Fig. 5 shows the adjustable bracket arms 61 and 62 clamped directly in engagement with the ends of the bosses 26 and 48. Inasmuch as the detail structure of the current collectors 63 and (34 is described. and claimed in the U. S. Patent of Earl R. Jones, No. 1,752,182, dated March 25, 1930, and assigned to the American Engineering Company, further description thereof is omitted.

Referring further to the hoisting structure 33, a central winding drum and motor chamber 68 is formed by means of a central frame (39 (Fig. 4) of oblong form and pressed-steel side plates 71 and 72. The central frame 69 comprises a pair of curved end plates 73 and 74 and an upper plate 75. The plate 75 is provided with a square aperture 76 through which extends the pairs of end walls 35, 3G and 39, 41. The lower edge of these walls is provided with a transversely-extending supporting flange 77 which fits under the edge portion of the plate 75 immediately adjacent to the aperture 76 therein. The supporting bracket 37 is thus subjected to shearing strains only at the front of connection with the plate 75.

One edge portion 78 of the pressed-steel plate 75 is offset with respect to an adjacent edge portion 79 of the frame end plate 73 so as to form a supporting shoulder therefor. An opposite edge portion 81 of the central plate 75 is similarly offset with respect to an adjacent edge 82 of the opposite frame end plate 74, so as to afford a supporting shoulder therefor. Hence, the central member 75 as in the case of the suspension bracket 37, is subjected to shearing strains only at the points of connection with the end plates 73 and 74. Remaining end portions 83 and 84 of the curved end plates 73 and 74 are longitudinally spaced, as shown in Fig. 4, to provide an opening 85 through which a hoisting rope 86 and a hook 87 may pass.

The side plates 71 and 72 are of oblong form and are provided with inwaidly-extending flange portions 88 and 89 adapted to fit over and engage adjacent side portions 91 and 92 of the intermediate frame 69. The peripheral portions 91 and 92 of the frame 69 thus constitute supporting shoulders for the side plates 71 and 72, permitting the transfer of the load therefrom and the establishing of shearing strains only in the side plates 71 and 72. Opposite side edge portions of the central frame 69 are provided with inwardlyextending flanges 93 and 94 having folded back portions 95 and 96, respectively. The flanges 93 and 94 afford abutting surfaces for adjacent portions 97 and 98 of the side plates 71 and 72, respectively.

The side plates 71 and 72 are provided with apertures 99 and 101, the edge portions of which are extended inwardly by means of circular flanges 102 and 103 adapted to receive bearing members 104 and 105, respectively. Each of the bearing members 104 and 105 support ashaft 106 upon which is mounted the hoisting drum 44 for the cable 86 and hook 87. The drum 44 is described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 329.058, filed December 28, 1928, and assigned to the American Engineering Company.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the hoisting device 38 is so mounted on the pivot bolt 29 that the axis of the hoisting drum 44 is at right angles to the Lbeam 1. Should it be desirable to have the axis of the hoisting drum 44 extended parallel to the I-beam 1, then it is only necessary to remove the pivot bolt 29 and turn the hoisting device 38 through an angle of 90. As shown in Figs. 1 and 4, portions 107 and 108 of the supporting flanges 88 and 89 of the side plates 71 and 72, respectively, are bent downwardly and outwardly across the full width of the opening 85 to provide a cable and hook guiding surface.

The drum shaft 106 is connected to a driving gear 109 (Fig. 2) of the motor 111 through gearing 112 (Fig. 6) mounted on shafts 113 and 114. The shaft 113 has opposite ends 115 and 116 jonrnaled in bearings 117 and 118 seated in cup-shaped recesses 119 and 121 formed in a flat portion 122 of a housing member 123 and the side plate 71. The recess 119 comprises a circular wall 124 and a base portion 125, the wall 124 being slightly enlarged to provide a shoulder 126 against which the bearing 117 may seat. The recess 121 is similarly formed with a shoulder 127 against which the bearing 118 may seat.

The shaft 114 is similarly journaled in bearings 128 and 129 which are seated in cup portions 130 and 131 formed during the original stamping operation. An inner end portion 132 of a motor housing 133 is journaled in a bearing 134 which is formed similarly to the supporting bearings for the drum shaft 106. The motor housing 133 extends through the chamber 66 with the axis thereof parallel to the drum shaft 44 and passes through an opening 135 in the side frame 72, being here supported by means of a bracket arm 136 secured to an outer side of the plate 72.

The gear housing 123 is provided with an edge portion 137 of oblong form so as to fit over and rest upon an oblong shoulder 138 formed in the side plate 71 inwardly of the shoulder provided by the oblong supporting flange 88. Since the gear-housing edge portion 137 is formed complementary to the supporting shoulder portion 138 and therefore fits the same in only one predetermined position, the proper alignment of the pairs of bearings 117, 118 and 128, 129 is automatically assured without the use of the usual dowel pins and fitted bolts. I11 the practical manufacture of such apparatus, as well as the repair thereof in the field, the feature of auto matieally aligning the bearings merely by fitting the gear housing 123 on its supporting member 71 is of very great value.

Inasmuch as it is also desirable to assure automatically the proper spacing of the bearings 117, 121 and 128, 129 when the gear housing 123 is mounted in position, the housing edge portion 137 is provided with a transversely-extending flange 139 which abuts against a parallel shoulder portion 141 of the side plate 71 when the bearings are in their desired spaced relation. In order to hold the gear housing 123 in position, a plurality of apertures 142 are formed in the gear housing flange portion 139, the side plate portion 131 in abutting relation therewith, and the side flange 93 of the central frame 69, the aperture in the flange 123 being threaded. A plurality of clamping bolts 143 are extended through the apertures 142 into the threaded portion thereof in the flange 93. Hence, when it is desirable to remove the gear casing 123, it is necessary only to unscrew the bolts 143.

The side plate 72, as well as the flange 94 with its folded back end portion 96, may be provided with threaded apertures 144 and clamping bolts 145 which merely serve to maintain the side plate 72 in position on the intermediate frame 69. It is noted that the bolts 144 and the bolts 143 are not subject to substantial shearing strains, inasmuch as the flanges 88 and 89 of the side plates 71 and 72 carry the load of the hoist, but merely serve to clamp their associated parts in position. Control apparatus 146 for the driving motor 111 is mounted on an outer side of the plate 72 and is enclosed by a housing 147, a flange 148 of which is secured by bolts 149 to the side plate 72 and the flange 94 of the central frame 69. The constructional details of the control apparatus 146 are described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 364,240, filed May 18, 1929, and assigned to the American Engineering Company.

Assuming that it is desired to adjust the trolley structure for a track of slightly increased width, this may be readily accomplished by inserting the washers and 56 between the side frames 9 and 46 and the suspension bracket 37. However, should a relatively large increase in the spacing of the pairs of traction wheels 4. and 5 be necessary, the side brackets 9 and 46 are reversibly mounted on the pivot bolt 29 and the pairs of wheels 4 and 5 are reversibly mounted on the brackets 9 and 46, as shown in Fig. 1. The brackets are then clamped in position by tightening the nuts 32 and 53. The loosening of the nuts 32 and 53 also permits adjustments in the position oi the current collectors 63 and 64.

When it is desired to obtain access to the gearing 112, the bolts 14-2 are removed. The subsequent alignment and spacing of the bearings in the housing 123 and the side plate 71 are assured when the edge portion 127 of the casing 123 is fitted over the oblong shoulder 138 on the side plate 71, with the flange 139 abutting against the side-plate portion 141. These parts may be then rigidly clamped in position by the bolts 143. The side plate 72 may be similarly removed by unscrewing the bolts 144, while the housing 148 may be removed by unscrewing the bolts \Vhile I have shown only one embodiment of my invention, for the purpose of describing the same and illustrating its principles of construction and operation, it is apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein, without departing from the spirit of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed thereon, as are indicated in the appended claims or as are demanded by the prior art.

What is claimed is 1. In a hoist, a motor housing, a supporting member therefor having an aperture affording one end of said motor housing a seat, a second supporting member provided with an aperture through which said motor housing extends, and means for securing said motor housing in position on said supporting members.

2. In a hoist, the combination with a trolle structure including oppositely arranged wheel-supporting elements, a bolt connecting said elements, a member adapted to be supported on said bolt in a plurality of different positions, a housing rigidly secured to said member, and hoist mechanism mounted in said housing.

3. In a hoist, the combination with a trolley structure including a transversely extending bolt, of a member having a plurality of oppositely arranged sets of aligned openings, each set adapted for reception of said bolt, said member thereby being adapted to be secured to the trolley structure in a plurality of different positions, a housing, hoist mechanism mounted in said housing, and means for rigidly securing said housing to said member.

4. In a hoist, the combination with a trolley structure, of amembcr secured in said structure and having a depending tubular portion terminating in an outwardly extending transverse flange, a housing having an opening closely fitting the sides of said tubular portion and supported by said flange, and hoist mechanism mounted in said housing.

5. In a hoist, the combination with a trolley structure, of a member secured in said structure and having a depending tubular portion terminating at its lower end in an outwardly projecting transverse flange, a housing comprising an inner housing member having an opening closely embracing said depending tubular part and supported on said flange, said inner housing member having outwardly projecting shoulders, an outer housing member supported on said shoulders, and means for securing the outer to the said inner housing member.

6. In a hoist, the combination with a housing, and hoist mechanism mounted therein, of a trolley structure including a pair of wheel-supporting brackets, each of said brackets having a lug projecting from one side, means for securing said brackets against opposite walls of said housing, said lugs constituting in one position of the brackets relative to the housing spacer elements between the housing and the said brackets effecting a predetermined axial spacing of said wheels, and said brackets being adapted to be secured to the housing in a reverse position in which the axial spacing of said wheels is reduced.

WILLARD A. HUMMEL. 

